Vietnam int'l financial center forms advisory board with former German deputy chancellor, ex-US envoy

According to the executive board, the advisory body will support research, recommend development priorities, advise on key financial products and governance mechanisms, and help connect domestic and international experts to advance the project.

It is also expected to provide independent perspectives, practical experience, and international best practices to help shape the center's development, attract investment, foster innovation, and strengthen Vietnam's position in regional and global finance.

The advisory board is chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Hoang Ngan, a member of Vietnam's National Assembly and chairman of the Advisory Council for Breakthrough Development at Saigon University.

An economist specializing in macroeconomics, finance, banking and monetary policy, Dr. Ngan has spent decades researching economic development and public policy.

The board also brings together internationally recognized figures with extensive experience in finance, diplomacy, and investment.

Among them is Philip Roesler, former deputy chancellor of Germany and former managing director of the World Economic Forum, who has extensive expertise in international strategic cooperation, digital assets, and financial institution networks.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper also serves on the advisory board, contributing extensive experience in Vietnam-U.S. relations, trade, investment, energy, and international cooperation.

Also serving on the advisory board are Stephen Glynn, former CEO of the Astana Financial Services Authority and former head of enforcement at the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and Jeff Singer, former CEO of the Dubai International Financial Center, both of whom have extensive experience leading major international financial centers.

Another member is Dr. Jochen Biedermann, managing director of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers, whose expertise spans financial center development strategies, fintech, and cooperation among financial centers worldwide.

The advisory board also includes Bhaskar Dasgupta, former head of market infrastructure at Abu Dhabi Global Market, who specializes in market infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and investment platform development.

The board comprises representatives from the investment and fintech sectors, including Don Lam, founding partner and CEO of VinaCapital; Chia Hock Lai, chairman of the Responsible Fintech Institute and co-founder and chief strategy officer of Embed Financial Group Holdings; and Sam Van, founder and CEO of SRO Partners.

Its Vietnamese academic members include Prof. Dr. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao, vice-president of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Cong Gia Khanh, rector of the University of Economics and Law; and Dr. Luu Ngoc Hiep, dean of the Faculty of Finance and Banking at the University of Economics & Business under Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

According to the VIFC-HCMC Executive Board, the advisory board will strengthen the center's strategic advisory capacity by bringing together leading Vietnamese and international experts, expanding cooperation with financial centers worldwide, and supporting the development of a modern, transparent financial ecosystem that meets international standards.